Con Fire Confirms Lithium-Ion Batteries Spark Walnut Creek House Fire

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Investigators with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District confirmed Wednesday afternoon that lithium-ion batteries were to blame for a fire Tuesday at a Walnut Creek home. Further, a fire Tuesday in Antioch was caused by a charging remote control car battery, a Con Fire spokesperson told Patch.

Moreover, a third fire in nine days in Antioch was caused by a charging e-bike.

"This is clearly a growing trend over recent years and we are kicking off an awareness campaign to advise residents of the dangers this week," Con Fire Spokesperson Steve Hill told Patch.

Tuesday's fire in Walnut Creek was initially reported around 9:15 p.m. by the residents of a home in the 1900 block of Amesbury Court, off Whitecliff Way, Hill said.

Two adults lived in the home and self-evacuated. They did not require Red Cross assistance.

Firefighters from nearby Walnut Creek Fire Station No. 4 were at the scene by 9:19 p.m. and reported heavy smoke and flames emanating from the garage. They immediately called for more resources, including from San Ramon Valley Fire.

At 9:24 p.m., the garage was fully involved in flames and firefighters were going into the house on the offensive to battle the fire, Hill said.

Crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the interior of the home, although there was some heat and smoke damage inside. There was extensive damage to the garage, the attic of the garage, and three cars, Hill said.

At 9:34 p.m., the main fire was knocked down and a fire investigator started looking into the cause. The investigator soon found lithium-ion batteries between a dryer and refrigerator in the garage and believed the batteries may have been the point of origin, Hill said.

At 10:50 p.m., Tuesday crews cleared the scene.

What they did not know is they would return seven hours later.

At 6:07 a.m. Wednesday, callers reported the roof of the garage was caving in.

"The original fire rekindled in a second-floor bedroom — something that only happens about 1 in 100 times," Hill said. "Embers were continuing to burn somewhere in that building."

Hill confirmed the roof of the garage collapsed early Wednesday as a result of the original fire, and said crews remained on scene at late as 11 a.m. Wednesday to ensure there were no chances of further rekindling.

Con Fire sent the below fliers regarding Lithium-Ion Safety and E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety: